Colonial Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad and LifeCare Medical Transports in Stafford County were selected by the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads to host three paramedics from Colombia, South America.

The medics were participating in an EMS foreign exchange program through VCU-MCV Hospital, which serves as the headquarters for the PanAmerican Trauma Association.

The three visitors were:

Paramedic Diana Uribe, an instructor who currently is in charge of the paramedic program at a university in Medellin, Colombia.

Paramedic Oscar Echeverry, an instructor and program director for a hospital care program at Santiago de Cali University.

Paramedic/firefighter Edinson Dussan, a volunteer in Bogota who works in sports emergency medicine.

During their stay, the visitors attended the annual state convention in Virginia Beach for rescue squad members in late September. They participated in classes on certification and lifesaving skills.

On Oct. 4, the group toured LifeCare and visited historical sites in Fredericksburg and Washington.

On Oct. 5, the group visited the Colonial Beach station, worked with EMS equipment and saw the work that rural rescuers do. The visitors also toured George Washington's Birthplace and went to local restaurants.

Wesley Melson, rescue chief of Colonial Beach, and Kevin Dillard, president of LifeCare, said it was an honor to be selected to host the visitors.

--Cathy Dyson